Compass Cay Yacht Charter: Nurse Sharks, Beaches & Turquoise Exuma Waters

Located in the central Exumas between Cambridge Cay and Staniel Cay, Compass Cay is one of the most distinctive stops on a Bahamas yacht charter, combining a remarkably protected natural harbour with pristine beaches, hiking trails, shallow turquoise channels, and one of the Exumas' most famous wildlife encounters.

Compass Cay is best known for the resident nurse sharks that gather around Compass Cay Marina. Guests can watch them from the docks and, when conditions and marina guidance allow, enter the shallow water alongside them. The experience has become one of the signature attractions of the Exumas, yet the island offers much more beyond the marina.

Walk across the cay to Crescent Beach, hike toward elevated viewpoints, explore Rachel's Bubble Bath, or spend the afternoon moving between sandbars and neighboring islands by tender. With no large resort or settlement, Compass Cay retains the relaxed, yacht-focused atmosphere that makes the central Exumas so appealing.

Compass Cay can be approached from both the Exuma Bank and Exuma Sound, but the final approach into the marina involves shallow water and a relatively narrow channel. Compass Cay Marina maintains marked channels with buoys and range markers, and currently advises that vessels drawing up to approximately six feet can enter from the Bank at low tide, with around eight feet available at high tide.

Once through the entrance, the harbour deepens considerably, with the marina reporting approximately 10 to 16 feet inside. Larger or deeper-draft yachts should coordinate directly with the marina and plan the approach around tide and current. As throughout the Exumas, captains should rely on current charts, visual navigation, local conditions, and marina guidance rather than historical depth information alone.

Yachts that prefer to remain at anchor can use the area south of the Compass Cay Marina entrance, where Waterway Guide reports approximately 7 to 10 feet of water with good holding in sand. The surrounding sandbar and shallow water provide considerable protection, although the anchorage remains exposed toward the west.

The most important consideration is the strong tidal current running through the area. Boats may lie to the current rather than the wind, and passing tenders and vessels entering the marina can create additional wake. Another anchoring area near Rachel's Bubble Bath offers good sandy holding in settled conditions but can become uncomfortable when northerly swell enters through Conch Cut.

Compass Cay is privately managed and centered around Compass Cay Marina, a highly sheltered harbour capable of accommodating yachts up to approximately 180 feet. Facilities include electricity, reverse-osmosis water, a small marina store, accommodations, and shore access for visiting yacht guests. Fuel is not currently listed as available at the marina, with nearby Staniel Cay serving as the closest established fueling option.

Away from the docks, the island has numerous beaches and walking trails. Highlights include Crescent Beach, Rachel's Bubble Bath, and Compass Peak, while the surrounding waters provide excellent opportunities for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and tender exploration. Compass Cay Marina states that the island has 13 beaches in total.